DISEASES OF THE DIGESTIVE ORGANS. T55 



entire absence of tenderness of the abdomen, or of elevated 

 temperature, serve to distinguish from other bowel diseases, 

 especially inflammation. Each succeeding attack may be less 

 severe until they cease, or they may increase in severity, and 

 the disease merge into acute tympanitic indigestion or enteriiis. 



In a7f//e there are similar symptoms with uneasy shifting of 

 the hind limbs, kicking with the upper one when down, twisting 

 of the tail and moaning. It rarely lasts over an hour or two. 



£>oos curl themselves up to rest, but move uneasily or moan, 

 and with the more violent pains start up with a sudden yelp, 

 move around for some time and lie down until the next spasm 

 comes on. The eye is bright, the nose cool and moist, the 

 pulse natural, and the appetite retained. 



Treatment.— 1\\ all animals alike, a laxative (aloes, horse ; 

 linseed-oil, cattle and sheep ; castor-oil, pigs and dogs) is the 

 safest treatment, as it soon relieves the spasm and carries off any 

 irritant that may have contributed to maintain it. It is usually 

 desirable to add an anodyne (belladonna, hyoscyamus, opium, 

 aconite, chloral-hydrate) to relieve the pain until the laxative is 

 absorbed, and a stimulant anti-spasmodic (carbonate of am- 

 monia, sweet spirits of nitre, ether) to quiet the nervous 

 excitement. Copious injections of warm water with or without 

 anodynes and anti-spasmodics are not to be neglected, neither 

 is quiet walking exercise. If the affection appears purely 

 spasmodic the laxatives may be withheld until two doses of 

 anodynes and anti-spasmodics have been given at intervals of 

 half an hour, but should these fail, give the opening medicine 

 at once, and then only enough of the other agents to moderate 

 excessive pain until it has had time to be absorbed. Complete 

 relief may be looked for in three or four hours. 



ACUTE H^EMCRRHAGIC ENTERITIS. 



This is very common in hard-working horses in some local- 

 ities, and is also seen in cattle, sheep, swine, and dogs. It may 



